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Coffee Or Tea – The Healthier Choice?

“The best days are when your biggest dilemma is choosing between the two beverages”.

When some people are asked how they take their coffee, they say that they take it very seriously indeed. For others, coffee is not their cup of tea. But whether you are a connoisseur of coffee or prefer swirling those tea-bags, the question stands: which is the healthier option? In the long run, swilling which substance will benefit you more?

Should You choose coffee or tea? Which one is more healthy? Here is a look at The benefits of both and which one can be better for you.

Tea: 0 Coffee: 0

1.Antioxidants

Antioxidants are powerful substances that prohibit or prevent the oxidation of other vital molecules in the body. Both tea and coffee contain these in abundance. Coffee, however, contains a greater amount of antioxidants per cup than tea. Chlorogenic acid, the main antioxidant present in coffee, is present in large amounts in instant coffee. A drawback of coffee is that it cannot be taken in large doses repeatedly lest it cause high blood pressure.

On the other hand, while black tea or green tea supplies less antioxidants than coffee per cup, you can drink up to 8 cups per day. Comparing that to two cups of coffee a day, the polyphenols from your tea intake would definitely surpass the antioxidants you’d ingest via coffee.

Another win for the tea lovers – the antioxidants present in tea have been proven to reduce the risk of skin cancer! I think it’s safe to say that tea wins this round.

Tea: 1 Coffee: 0

2..Disease Resistance

On this front, tea and coffee seem to be pretty evenly matched.

Drinking black tea reportedly reduces the risk of having a heart attack, while people who drink green tea tend to have lower cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides and higher ‘good cholesterol’ aka HDL.

Coffee comes with its own set of health hacks. The caffeine in this beverage has been proven to block inflammation in the brain’s adenosine receptors and delay the onset of Alzeimer’s disease. Coffee also significantly reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It is also recommended for lessening joint pain.

Tea: 2 Coffee: 1

3.Brain Function and Memory

It’s good news for those on Team Coffee, it’s here that your favourite drink levels up!

Caffeine acts as a mild stimulant to the central nervous system. A cup of coffee can work wonders for your alertness and attention span, making it the perfect wake-up call. It is also effective to ease the discomfort of those suffering from jetlag. If taken in moderation, it enhances one’s memory too!

Tea has also been proven to increase cognitive functioning and enhance wakefulness and memory, but as the caffeine content is much lower than that of coffee, it is not nearly to the same extent.

Tea: 2 Coffee: 2

4.Weight Loss

Recent research has shown that green tea can be instrumental in losing weight. It not only helps improve your metabolism, it also serves as a calorie-free substitute to other, more sugary drinks. The most you can do to tea is add milk and sugar, and that too only to black tea. Green tea is a very safe and useful option if you are trying to lose those extra kilos.

Coffee, unfortunately, can have the opposite effect – while black coffee isn’t calorie-rich, there are far more ways of turning this fluid fatty by supplementing it with various kinds of creams, sugar, chocolate and milk!

It looks like tea is in the lead yet again.

Tea: 3 Coffee: 2

5.Minerals and Nutrients

Coffee beats tea on this count. Coffee contains a small amount of both proteins and calcium even when prepared without milk, while tea lacks both. Coffee also contains a higher quantity of phosphorous, a mineral which is necessary for strong bones. Both contain similar percentages of magnesium, which boosts immunity. Potassium content of coffee, however, is around 2% higher than that of tea, which makes it an excellent remedy for menstrual or muscle cramps.

Tea: 3 Coffee: 3

The Other Benefits of Both Tea and Coffee

l Helps obese people to manage weight – Containing caffeine, white tea can help obese people lose weight while also boosting the metabolism and curbing hunger. What’s more is that tea helps prevent the formation of new fat cells while aiding in The breakdown of existing fat cells.

l Possesses anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities – It is these very qualities that help our body to eliminate several types of fungi, viruses and bad bacteria. It has also been proven to kill those bacteria which cause bad breathe, decay of tooth and plaque.

l Fights off early signs of aging – Stress, time and too much exposure to The sun are some common cause of early skin aging. The anti-aging properties of white tea help the skin to resist stress and harmful sun rays while reversing the damage already caused to the skin. It gives way to radiant-looking, firmer, healthier and glowing skin.

l Good bone health – Regular consumption of white tea helps strengthen your bones and increase its density. People suffering from osteoporosis have also received great relief.

The final consensus? It looks like it’s a tie. As is the case with most edible substances, too much of a good thing is seldom good. Both coffee and tea have their fair share of health benefits. As long as they are not consumed in excess, you can start your day with whichever hot beverage you fancy more!